Overview
- Pantone named Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), a soft off‑white described as a calming, creative neutral, as its 2026 selection.
- The Pantone Color Institute said the choice reflects a desire for relaxation, focus and a visual reset, calling the hue a ‘billowy white imbued with serenity.’
- Designers, media outlets and social media users criticized the decision as tone‑deaf or politically loaded, with some comparing the moment to the Sydney Sweeney/American Eagle controversy.
- Pantone issued a statement saying the selection process is apolitical and based on emotional and creative resonance, with vice president Laurie Pressman stressing that skin tones did not factor into the decision.
- Partner collaborations are moving ahead, with products tied to Cloud Dancer announced from Motorola, Play‑Doh, Post‑it, Joybird, Command, Pura and Mandarin Oriental, as fashion and interiors outlets position the hue as a 2026 trend.